Paul Blackburn, two A’s relievers shut out Tigers

Paul Blackburn and two relievers combined on a five-hit shutout as the visiting Oakland Athletics defeated the Detroit Tigers, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon.

Blackburn (1-0) limited Detroit to three hits in six innings while recording four strikeouts. Austin Adams pitched one inning before Mason Miller closed out the contest, striking out three in two innings.

Brent Rooker led the offense with two hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs. Zack Gelof walked three times and scored three runs for Oakland, which claimed its second win this season.

Detroit starter Kenta Maeda (0-1) was charged with three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

The A’s took a two-run lead in the first. Gelof drew a one-out walk. After a groundout, Rooker blasted a 3-2 slider over the left field wall for his second home run in as many days.

Detroit Dub 👏 pic.twitter.com/3BdaHIzgR6

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 6, 2024

In the bottom of the inning, Kerry Carpenter was left stranded after a two-out double. Mark Canha reached on an error in the next inning and moved to second on a long flyout. The next two batters lined out to end the inning.

Blackburn recorded 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth.

Gelof also scored the A’s third run, this time in the sixth. He led off with another walk and advanced to second on Rooker’s one-out grounder.

Joey Wentz replaced Maeda and promptly gave up Seth Brown’s RBI single.

Parker Meadows led off the bottom of the inning with an infield hit. Blackburn then struck out Spencer Torkelson and Carpenter. After Meadows stole second, Riley Greene grounded out.

Gelof drew a walk off Wentz in the eighth and stole second. After Wentz struck out the next batter, he was replaced by Will Vest.

Rooker slapped a bloop single to center that knocked in Gelof.

Carson Kelly smacked a one-out double and Torkelson drew a two-out walk against Miller in the eighth. Carpenter then grounded out to end the inning.

Miller struck out Greene and Canha before Colt Keith singled in the ninth. Gio Urshela then fouled out to end the game.

Upcoming schedule for Paul Blackburn and the Oakland A’s

• Friday, April 5th-Sunday, April 7th – @ Detroit Tigers
• Tuesday, April 9th-Thursday, April 11th – @ Texas Rangers
• Friday, April 12-Sunday, April 14th – vs. Washington Nationals
• Monday, April 15-Wednesday, April 17th – vs. St. Louis Cardinals
• Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 – @ Cleveland Guardians

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–Field Level Media

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